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IAC BASEBALL: WAVERLY'S McDUFFEE LIKES WHAT HE SEES IN 2019 WOLVERINES (2019-03-29)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY - Longtime Waverly coach Kyle McDuffee likes what he sees on the mound and in the batter's box for the 2019 Wolverines, but believes the biggest key could be his team's team chemistry.

"I think pitching is a great strength for us, and I think our line-up will be pretty good with hitters, but I believe one of our biggest strengths is going to be our compatibility.

"This is a tight group," said McDuffee. "They all help each other, and that's good for a group that has a mix of seniors and young kids."

The Wolverines return much of its starting line-up, including senior catcher Montana Davis, senior center fielder Colby Sindoni, senior third baseman Cole Jenner, junior shortstop Jalen McCarty, senior first baseman Brady Roney, junior outfielder Ethan Stotler, and freshman first baseman Caden Hollywood. Senior Ethan Lloyd also returns and will see time in the outfield.

"This is a good core of baseball players that will be a big key to our success this year," said McDuffee.

Waverly top two newcomers are 7th-graders Joe Tomasso, who will start at second base, and Jay Pipher, who will start in the outfield, and possibly see time at third base.

Other newcomers include Noah Carpenter, who could see time at third base or DH, James Schutt, who could see time at second base, and Alex Bartlett and Austin Ellers, who will vie for time in the outfield.

"Our newcomers will need to fill some key positions to help us be successful," said McDuffee.

Roney, Hollywood, Sindoni, Stotler, and Jenner will see the majority of time on the mound, and Bartlett should also see some innings.

"We're pretty deep in pitching," said McDuffee. "I'm looking forward to watching them work the plate."

The Wolverines would have been even deeper - both on the mound and at the plate, but junior Scott Woodring will miss the entire season after suffering a major knee injury early in the basketball season.

"Losing Woodring was a tough blow," said McDuffee. "Not only losing him as a pitcher, but at the end of last season he was hitting .400. Taking a .400 hitter out of your line-up is not easy to replace.

"The only good thing about it is he's only a junior and has another year left.," added McDuffee. "At least, he didn't do this before his senior season. I look forward to getting him back next year."

McDuffee's main concern for 2019 is working his newcomers into the mix, and being ready for the postseason.

"I just think we need to mature throughout the season," he said. "I think we need to be prepared for those big games once the postseason rolls around."

The IAC has introduced a new divisional format for the 2019 season, based solely on the participating schools' enrollment. Waverly is in Division 3 with fellow Class B schools Whitney Point and Trumansburg, and the biggest Class C schools Newark Valley, O-M / Watkins Glen, and Notre Dame.

"I like the new format," said McDuffee. "The league put the (Class) B schools together in the same division, and that will only help us in terms of Sectional playoff points.

"The new format has set up every team in the IAC to be prepared to go to Sectionals in terms of (seeding) points.

"If we were to go 17-3 this season, like we did a few years ago, instead of traveling to Oneonta in the second round, I think we would get two home Sectional games based on the new format," he added.

The Wolverines could also pick up extra playoff points with its non-league slate.

"I think our non-league schedule is going to prepare us for Sectionals," said McDuffee. "We're playing U-E, Vestal, Athens, and a high-caliber team in Sayre - it has to help us."

Waverly opens the 2019 campaign this afternoon at O-M / Watkins Glen.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly senior Bradey Roney.

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